Suicide Prevention Working as a BHT in the US Military

22 January 2025

A Live, Interactive Webinar

 

 

Description:

This intensive one-day module provides training in the assessment and management of suicide ideation and behavior. The module is designed for Behavioral Health Technicians (BHTs) working with service members who are seeking training in empirically supported treatment options they can immediately incorporate into their clinical practice. The theoretical underpinnings of suicide ideation and behavior are presented.

Participants will be introduced to the Self-Directed Violence Classification System (SDVCS), a nomenclature supported by the DoD/VA for self-directed violence and suicidal behavior. Population-based risk and protective factors will be reviewed. Next, basic elements of suicide risk screening and assessment will be introduced. Participants will learn a number of crisis intervention strategies for working with suicidal patients. Participants will receive in-depth training in the assessment and management of suicidal patients and will have the opportunity to practice skills.. Video demonstrations and participant role-plays will be used in class to practice key assessment and intervention techniques. The training will provide hands-on practice activities and is geared toward an actively involved audience through discussion and workshop activities. Participants are expected to actively engage in workshop activities and attend the full day of training.

 

Learning Objectives:

 

1. Develop appropriate responses to patient disclosures about suicide risk. 

2. Use appropriate tools and processes to conduct a basic suicide risk assessment and stratification. 

3. Develop an effective safety plan with a patient. 

4. Apply the 4-Step Lethal Means Safety Counseling (LMSC) process when working with a patient. 

5. Promote coping skills acquired during the course of treatment for Suicidal ideation.

 

Target Audience: Behavioral Health Technicians (BHTs) working with Service members

 

Instructional Content Level: Intermediate

Registration Cost/Refunds: This training is free for those with a .mil email address. Registration fees will be refunded to participants who send a written cancellation via email to brandon.carpenter.ctr@usuhs.edu no less than 2 weeks before the training. No refunds will be made after the training.

Required Materials: None

Location Information: Online via Zoom

Instructional Format: This live webinar is fully interactive. Attendees may ask and answer questions throughout the presentation and participate in instructor-led discussions.

System

Requirements:

Zoom:

• Internet connection
• Operating System: Windows 7 or higher, Mac OS X with MacOS 10.9 or higher
• Web Browser: Internet Explorer 11+, Edge 12+, Firefox 27+, Chrome 30+, Safari 7+
• Hardware: 1Ghz processor or higher

Special Accommodations: If you require special accommodations due to a disability, please contact Brandon Carpenter at brandon.carpenter.ctr@usuhs.edu 4 weeks prior to the training so that we may provide you with appropriate service.

Grievances: For any grievances or concerns with this training including those related to course content, non-receipt of certificate or other occurrences, participants may contact CDP’s Continuing Education Director, Amanda Stanley-Hulsey, via email at amanda.stanley-hulsey.ctr@usuhs.edu.

Instructor Biographies:

Debra Nofziger, Psy.D., is a Senior Military Behavioral Health Psychologist and certified Cognitive Processing Therapy Trainer with the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. She develops, maintains, and conducts virtual and in-person training related to military deployments, culture, posttraumatic stress, and other psychological and medical conditions Service members and Veterans experience. She also supports research and other CDP programs aimed at enhancing military behavioral science and supporting providers. From 2007 to mid-2020, Dr. Nofziger served as the CDP Military Internship Behavioral Health Psychologist at Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) in San Antonio, TX. She assisted with managing multiple behavioral health training programs, including the Clinical Psychology Internship Program, Psychology Residency, Social Work Internship Program, and multiple post- doctoral psychology fellowships.

Dr. Nofziger was an active duty Army psychologist with assignments at BAMC and the U.S. Army School of Aviation Medicine. She was also deployed for a year to Iraq as a Brigade Psychologist with the 4th Infantry Division. Her variety of Active Duty assignments included positions as a staff psychologist in medical settings, at a community behavioral health clinic for soldiers in training, and in an aviation school environment where she was the training director for the Army’s Aeromedical Psychology Training Course.

**There is no commercial support or conflict of interest to report for these presenters.